Conservatory Projects

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We’re often asked if a glass conservatory or elegant pool house adds value to a home.

What do you think? Is that even the right question?

We’re partnered with a writer who, before she began writing, was the third generation in her family’s real estate business on the west coast. She told us that her father advised people who were searching for a home not to consider it part of their investment portfolio, although he recognized that a house could indeed be an investment. Instead, he suggested they buy and use the home that best suited the family – in other words if you want a conservatory in your home get one.

What does a conservatory add?

There are three critical values to determine the worth of any home; what you think its worth, what it’s going to be worth to someone else, and what a professional will think it’s worth. While that’s true when you’re talking price, it doesn’t encompass what living in the home is like for you.

When we talk with our clients about what the conservatory brings to them, the most common response is it’s become a part of their everyday lifestyle, where they go for safe haven, create priceless family memories, and live out the things they are most passionate about. Often it comes down to becoming part of their legacy; the mark they want to leave on their family with the most cherished memories.

What is the value of a memory? Or a place where you feel close to nature and at peace? A place of light and love?

In our experience, an elegant, well-crafted conservatory generates massive curb appeal to a home, drawing people’s eyes around the room to look at the detail within the wood and steel work.

A Recent Sale

Several years ago we built a conservatory for Hollywood Director Ron Howard as a focal point with elegant seating at the far end of his pool house. It added just the right dramatic touch, matching and enhancing the beauty of his estate.

On Friday, January 9, 2015, the CT Post announced the sale of Ron Howard’s home for $27.5 million! From curb appeal to relaxing nooks to family fun spaces, the home is nothing less than extraordinary. What many find as most appealing is the heated indoor pool linked to its glass conservatory. During those cold New England winters, this addition to Ron’s home is the perfect cure-all for those long, dark months and a perfect protected place when it’s hot outside.

While we certainly don’t know how much Ron’s pool house conservatory contributed to the sale price, we’re pretty sure it didn’t hurt. After all, how could it?

Not surprisingly, Ron Howard obviously has an eye for design and for a true artist’s attention to detail.

This expansive property set amidst 32 groomed acres might be called the epitome of visual appeal. There’s a delightful flavor of the Victorian and the pool house he added while he lived there played well with that theme.

Beauty creates its own draw

“A good-looking face isn’t just memorable – in real estate, an attractive exterior can make or break a home sale.”

There’s no reason to think a glass conservatory or gorgeous pool house does anything but improve the face a home presents to the world.

Of course, a conservatory or pool houses is more than a pretty face. They provide the kind of space that creates a celebration of life and health. With the natural light and warm, healthy atmosphere, families and friends, young and old often find themselves in a kind of intimacy that’s hard to replicate anyplace else.

Just as a glass conservatory or magnificent pool house adds beauty, it can also add value to your home and your legacy. To learn more, take a look at our e-brochure on the left hand side of this webpage or schedule a 30 minute consultation with our team.

The botanical garden

Best known as the Community Gardens, the Huntsville Botanical Gardens was a favored spot even before they decided to add a conservatory. They created it because, according to President and CEO Paula Steigerwald, they “wanted an event space and room to be the jewel of event spaces to attract people and leave an impression.”

Matheny Goldmon Architecture & Interiors had been brought in to do the drawings. As soon as their architect, James Curley, heard what the Botanical Gardens wanted, he took fire and created the conceptual design for the conservatory. It was the first time Curley had attempted such a project and what a job he did; he fashioned the WOW factor. He also understood from the beginning that Tanglewood was the only company that could bring his vision to life without changing the integrity of the design.

A single donor fell so in love with James’ concept that the donor funded the whole project! Turner construction wanted to ensure the integrity of that design. In fact, everyone involved knew it was important to deep design integrity and maintain the look and sense the way it was meant to be.

A WOW of a Partnership

PMP, LEED AP, also of Turner, were great. You might have thought we’d all learned to build together when we were kids. They were excellent communicators and totally understood that we are not typical builders, that everything we do is custom built.

Later, word came down through our own production manager that although several of the companies Turner had approached were less costly than we were, none of them seemed to understand how important the design was. They wanted to make changes. We understood the need to honor the design as it was first conceived.

Matheny Goldmon Architecture & Interiors handled the rest of the building, except for the roof, assuring the original design was kept intact. We loved working with them. Their company culture is “Making spaces and places that enrich people’s lives or increase the creative influence in a workspace. We’re about ideas and opportunities.”

We fount them to be true to their word. As we work together our appreciation for each other’s commitment and creativity continue to grown.

When coupled with the wonderful people at Turner, whose vision is “To be the highest value provider of global construction services and technical expertise”

we knew we’re working with the absolute best.

What was most memorable about this partnership?

There were many moments when we thrilled at how well the partnership was working.

Tanglewood’s Project Manager, Delfina Ezcurra, put it this way:

It was a partnership through and through. We really worked well together and we were treated like equal partners. They were very kind and helpful and we felt they wanted us to succeed just as much as we wanted them to succeed – they always gave a helping hand anytime we needed it.

Almost complete

The roof is ours!

The roof is a magnificent 812 square feet of glass and light; the copula stands above it all.

The conservatory is being built with Sapele, Mahogany, Steel and Copper. Nearing completion, this beautiful conservatory will be open to the public soon. It will be a must-see, we promise.

More to Come

This project with Matheny Goldmon and Turner makes us eager for more of the same.

We look forward to forming more partnerships to create a room that not only fashions the peaceful and restful spot you want now, but adds to the legacy you want to build for the future.

Call us at 410-479-4700 to get started designing the conservatory of your dreams, or you can fill out the form on our contact pageto begin.

Conservatory design is unique. The amount of knowledge, craftsmanship, research, and attention to design and detail greatly differs from the creation of any other room in the world. According to Bill Bertsche, with Mercer & Bertsche Architecture & Engineering, “…few architects have the experience required to design and detail a TRUE CONSERVATORY. You could approach it as a stick built room, could make a frame and put in glass and windows, but you’d miss the essence of what a GREAT CONSERVATORY should be – GLASS AND LIGHT.”

Great conservatory design secrets

“In architecture, two major factors determine the success or failure of a structure; the form and the function.”

For over 20 years, our expert designer has been designing some of the country’s most unique and innovative conservatories. From elegant greenhouses to luxurious conservatories to elegant pool enclosures, he always says two main elements create beautiful designs; a structures form and its intended function.

The trick, of course, is how to get there. Close attention to details, he points out, is integral to the process. According to our designer,

“Eye pleasing form and specifically defined functions, whether it be a greenhouse, conservatory, or pool enclosure, should complement each other and come together harmoniously to create a true conservatory design.”

Conservatories are works of art, carefully handcrafted to fit the specific needs of individuals and bring peace to your home. In his experience, harmony is created in the details. What sets conservatory design a part from say the design of your home or office building is the attention to detail not only in the furniture and items within the room and its function/purpose, but the details built into the core structure of the room itself. We approach every design as a blank sheet of paper with endless possibilities; as our designer always says, “I’ve been designing for Tanglewood for over 20 years and of all my favorites, they have one thing in common, I was given total freedom to design from scratch and each structure was built unlike anything else in the world.”

When we asked him what he liked best about designing for Tanglewood, he said, “We never build the same thing twice. Each and every conservatory is different and has its own unique personality and challenges. I’m often amazed at what we’re able to do. Of course, we learn from each one too. It never gets boring. The more complex and challenging the design the better I like them. I would not have lasted 21 years if I did not enjoy the work I do. It’s not just designing and building – we really are creating art.”

Why our clients want conservatories

The reasons our clients want conservatories are myriad. Many are looking to create a space to enjoy a sense of outdoor living no matter the weather outside. Many realize a glass conservatory creates the ideal place to retreat and commune with the beauty and ambience of growing plants and flowers.

Others look to add beautiful works of art to their home, and/or for their community. .One of our current clients is looking to design a conservatory to perfectly frame a stunning view while providing a serene place for personal and family re-creation of those undergoing medical treatment.

Families and friends make memories that last a lifetime and leave a legacy in these rooms. Imagine what that memories you and your family might make surrounded by such beauty.

What would you add to this list? What dreams might the idea of a well-designed conservatory spark in you?

Why we build conservatories

We love building these rooms because we feel they bring a sense of peace, tranquility, and rejuvenation to oneself; the enchantment these spaces bring is unlike anything we’ve ever experience before. We love the challenge of innovative design and using new materials to build truly classical spaces.

But what is most satisfying, is bringing our clients visions to life; exactly how they envision it.
We start with a conversation with the owner and their team to discover exactly what it is they want to experience in their conservatory. With careful consideration and attention to detail, we turn their vision into hand-drawn renderings which, when the design is exactly what the client is looking for, we begin to bring those drawings to life. Each element in the construction is carefully considered to make sure it exceeds expectation whether it be specially laser carved steel beams or searching for an exact type of rare wood to set the tone of the room, it is important we do our part in creating the perfect atmosphere that will reflect the look and feel the client desires. We make sure your conservatory will appeal to all your senses, detail by detail.
Take a look at our e-brochure & read through it. It may spark your imagination in ways that both please and excite you.

What are some favorite designs?

“When we allow our imaginations to take flight, the results are amazing and often surprising. Anything is possible in conservatory architecture; we just have to break outside of the box and approach every new project as a blank sheet of paper and not trying to fit an existing idea into a preconceived box”

Do you have a favorite design? We can help you achieve the great conservatory design and feel you are searching for. Perhaps a no-cost 30 minute consultation would be a good place to start! To secure yours, call us at 410-479-4700 or fill out our form.

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The love affair between steel and the arts was birthed during the industrial revolution with the development of decorative cast iron. The malleability of first cast iron and then steel entranced designers who delighted in creating romantic flourishes including leaves, stars and even fanciful animals. As glass became affordable, it was coupled with both structural and decorative cast iron for the charming glass conservatories we know of from 18th century.

The manufacturing of steel and other metals has improved over time, giving them properties that allow our own ability to use them to also evolve. The result is new possibilities transforming conservatory design into thoroughly modern and special rooms with the old world flare that is so charming and desirable.

Storytelling in Steel

We love our clients! Their imagination gives us new challenges and takes us to new heights.

One client led us to a new discovery in the future of steel structure. He dreamed of a glass conservatory that would have the charm and feel of mahogany yet constructed using steel to reflect his love of mathematics!

We puzzled over a few renderings but one late night drawing captured it all. To incorporate his passions we cut the Fibonacci sequence in the supporting steel beams! He loved the concept!

You may know it from The Da Vinci Code – either the book or the movie. A Fibonacci Sequence can be defined as a series of numbers in which each number ( Fibonacci number ) is the sum of the two preceding numbers. The simplest is the series 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc.

Charmed with our rendering, our client immediately saw his passions coming alive in his new glass conservatory. Using laser cut steel we were able to create a pattern of circles using the sequence. Note the elbow of each support is the largest circle. The three circles moving out from the biggest circle decrease in size according to their Fibonacci number. When it was built, he was thrilled at how we met and exceeded his expectations. It is now his favorite room
in his home!

Another client envisioned a glass conservatory on a stone observation deck. The goal was to create it out of steel and bronze while retaining all possible old world charm. At the top, he suggested, should be a bronze roof-lantern-style cap that would cover the home’s elevator.

Our solution was to engineer a bronze exterior shell to contain the glass. Inside steel ribs emphasize the architecture and blend with the interior of the home.

In Partnership

One of the reasons our designs are so well loved is we partner with other craftspeople. To give our clients the best experience and quality, we are now the exclusive Mid-Atlantic dealer of Brombal Products. Brombal is well known for beautifully handcrafted Italian door and window systems. Carefully chosen partnerships like this one expand what we are able to offer our clients while maintaining our commitment to quality of materials and design.

The Art of the Glass Conservatory

We are more than just another conservatory manufacturer. The artistry that comes with designing and building glass conservatories with modern materials in the charming style of yore is what makes us America’s Premier Conservatory Designer and Manufacturer. We are truly artists, in love with our craft.

Connect with our Project Manager, Andrew Ruf, to begin the discussion of how your conservatory can inspire and reflect your passions – 410.479.4700

To maximize the amount of light entering their new sunroom, one Maryland family, architect, and builder was in search of a company to help create a unique, one-of-a-kind skylight with two requirements; the STEEL STRUCTUREneeds to be as minimal as possible and the skylight must be STAR-SHAPED! After talking with two other companies, we were thrilled they chose Tanglewood to design and build this work of art.

“After hearing their proposal to eliminate almost all of the standard structural details to really maximize the amount of glass exposed, it ruled out the competition. We loved the idea and knew we wanted to start working with Tanglewood right away.”

We were thrilled to have this opportunity to work on this skylight and even though it brought great challenge, it pushed our design capabilities like never before and produced a true one-of-a-kind design.

Dreaming of a star-inspired skylight, our first challenge arose in the structural engineering of it. Skylights can be designed to integrate with any type of architecture and in addition to bringing in an ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL LIGHTthey enhance the look and experience of any room, from the largest to the smallest. So as we moved through the design phase, we produced 4-5 design concepts after collaborating with the family, architect, builder, and other members of our team that we felt fit the needs and vision they were describing.

First, the glass must be able to support a heavy structural load and several forces of expected magnitudes with minimal steel or laminated glass beams. Traditionally, skylights are built to have the glass fit in metal frames to hold it in place properly, but we took a different approach.

OUR SOLUTION was to put a glass fin in between two steel rafters with the glass bonded together to not only give the glass the support and strength it needed but to turn it into a piece of artwork where the glass will reflect light in an imaginative way throughout the room.

An Artistic Touch

Skylights are almost magical, offering as much as three times the amount of natural light you’ll get from ordinary windows. To add an ESSENSE OF ELEGANCE to enhance the skylight, our expert designer created a SCULPTURAL STEEL STRUCTUREengraved with beautiful details to carry the design throughout the whole skylight.

Eagerly awaiting the completion of their new sunroom, the owners are saying, “We are very excited to see the project come to fruition! We could not have put together a more powerful team to get the job done.”

By the END OF SEPTEMBER, this marvelous skylight will be complete and inviting natural light into a home right here in the state of Maryland.

The first is that ARCHITECTURE IS ART. Sure, it deals with the facts of physics and the preciseness of engineering, but at its best, architecture is made great when it includes the practical yet moves beyond toward the sublime. This type of thinking is exemplified in many of the old world glass houses and it started with hand-drawn plans similar to what we do today. The intimacy of putting ink on paper allowed a CREATIVE AWARENESSof each element of the construction that is so often ignored and missing in today’s emphasis on costs and speed.

The second observation is the INCREDIBLE ATTENTION TO DETAIL that became possible with at the start of the industrial revolution. That was a magical period when the craftsmanship of old world building styles spilled over into the sudden ability to replicate beauty. It was during this period – roughly the second half of the 1800s and the first quarter of the 1900s – that you find not only the strength and versatility of cast iron, but cast iron decorated with charming outlines of birds, and four-leaf clovers stamped into steel.

It was also the era when glass became a strong, integral part of the structure itself. The seemingly fragile transparent material adding strength and expanding possibilities of light and warmth to even the coldest regions of the world. The glass conservatory was indeed magic and still is.

We at Tanglewood have taken more than a few techniques and attitudes from that glorious past forward to today, building glass conservatories and skylights that combine the best of beauty and construction details. For more information about how we continue this tradition, CLICK HERE to read our brochure or give us a call at 410.479.4700.

TheConservatory of Flowers is part of why San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is so famous. Not only is it the OLDEST WOOD CONSERVATORY in the U.S., its history is intriguing. We are not the only ones who think so! One family wanted a greenhouses designed to resemble this amazing conservatory! Click here to read more.

In the mid eighteen hundreds, wealthy BUSINESSMAN AND PHILANTHROPIST, JAMES LICK, ordered a greenhouse for his home in nearby Santa Clara. It was designed, and the necessary lumber cut to size. The pieces were packed and shipped to Lick’s home, arriving shortly before he died in 1876. Strangely enough, the designer is unknown.

Although most conservatories of that era were built with iron, the Conservatory of Flowers was designed and originally built with CALIFORNIA COAST REDWOOD (Sequoia sempervirens), an obvious choice since redwood was so plentiful in the area then.

The building is a classic and elaborate VICTORIAN DESIGN. It is some 240 feet long by almost 60 feet wide. Its central dome is 60 feet high! Set on a masonry foundation on a gentle hill, the building is E shaped with L’s, each of which are topped with their own cupola. You enter the conservatory through a glass vestibule on the south side. The central dome is an octagonal pavilion that is topped first by an arched roof. On top of that is the clear story and dome. The octagonal is supported by eight iron pillars. There are a total, it is reported, of 16,800 PANES OF GLASS. Small wonder so many consider it a CHARMING CONFECTION.

Lick’s estate offered it, still in crates, for sale and in 1877 some of his fellow businessmen bought the greenhouse as a gift for the City. When it opened in 1879 this Victorian-style conservatory soon became the park’s MOST VISITED ATTRACTION. It is the oldest building in the park.

Hardly problem-free, a boiler explosion in 1883 caused extensive damage to the conservatory dome which was restored by a donation of $10,000 from banker Charles Crocker. During the repairs, the dome was raised some six feet topped with a model of the planet Saturn, perhaps as a symbol of farming or growing things, which replaced the original eagle at the very top.

In 1918 the dome again burned and by 1933 the whole structure was closed for 13 years as repairs were slowly made. In 1995 windstorms did extensive damage and the conservatory was again closed. It was finally again reopened in 2003.

Not surprisingly, given its name, this gorgeous conservatory is also notable for its MARVELOUS COLLECTION OF PLANTS AND FLOWERS, both inside and out.

Check the website for details of events, special displays and other information to make your visit to the Conservatory of Flowers a real pleasure as well as food for thought about what you might add to your own conservatory. CALL US at 410.479.4700 to discuss your project.

Have you been to the only conservatory in the world made entirely of wood?

One of the most visited sites in all of San Diego, CA is the Botanical Building in Balboa Park. Built for the 1915-1916 Panama-California Exposition, the now 100+ year old structure is the ONLY ALL-WOOD LATH CONSERVATORY on the planet!

It also happens to be one of the LARGEST CONSERVATORIES in the world! Although we tend to think of conservatories as glass buildings, this one demonstrates how remarkable the design of conservatories of the 19th century has evolved. That’s probably why it is an inspiration to Tanglewood. Passionate about 19th century conservatory design/architecture, Tanglewood is always finding NEW, INNOVATIVE WAYS to bring UNIQUE DESIGN CONCEPTS to life in every project.

Alfred D. Robinson, who was recognized as a world authority on begonias, is credited with the concept of this lath conservatory. He created a structure that would be ideal for those surprisingly versatile and shade-loving begonias he loved so much.

These days, the conservatory houses MORE THAN 2,000 PERMANENT PLANTS, including collections of cycads, ferns, orchids and other tropical plants. The building is also known for

presenting some Balboa Park’s best seasonal displays of flowers.

The structure is fronted by an equally famous large lily pond that is home to kid-fascinating turtles and a grand selection of colorful, mature koi, plus a collection of wandering ducks all open to the San Diego sky. Often the first impression a visitor has when entering the conservatory itself is of cool dimness and the fecund smell of moist earth as their eyes adjust the amazing collection of plants appear.

This marvelous LATH CONSERVATORY is huge! It measures 60 FEET TALL at the top and the footprint is 75 FEET WIDE by 250 FEET LONG. This not only allows for full-grown tall plants, but creates ample space for generous paths wandering the whole length and breadth of the building. Even with a moderate crowd it’s possible to have a sense of privacy once or twice as you explore.

You’ll often find yourself face-to-face with captivating and EXOTIC PLANTS at almost every turn. Many of the larger displays of plants are surrounded by containers that are designed for easy sitting. Great spots to look closely at a plant or just to relax for a minute or longer.

The Botanical Building Conservatory is open every day but Thursdays from 10 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon and closed on most holidays. Amazingly, it’s FREE TO THE PUBLIC! You can confirm the schedule and find out about special events and exhibits at itsofficial website.

The Botanical Building will delight you and often surprise you – both wonderful reasons for a visit or even two.

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What does a fabulous glass conservatory and a Tom Watson designed golf course have in common?

It turns out that a world class golf course and a magnificent glass conservatory have everything in common at HAMMOCK BEACH RESORT on Florida’s eastern coast. The conservatory anchors the course club house. In fact, the course, DESIGNED BY GOLF LEGEND TOM WATSON, is actually named for the fabulous glass structure. It’s called The Conservatory Course.

Located between SAINT AUGUSTINE to the north and DAYTONA BEACH to the south, the resort has the Atlantic Ocean as its eastern border. The generally flat land has been transformed with gently rolling hills and spectacular landscapingresulting in a golfing and resort experience that’s PERFECT FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN.

Most people immediately notice the HIGH GLASS DOME of the conservatory when they arrive. Because of its location, when you’re inside the dome, you get wonderful views of the 18th hole and on to the ocean’s far horizon with views of ships, sailing boats, birds and ever changing weather.

The conservatory footprint is almost 40,000 square feet. It’s filled with tropical plants as well as the usual clubhouse amenities. Some say it was designed to evoke the look and of the British Raj period in India.

A PERFECT ADDITION TO YOUR BUCKET LIST, a great destination for year around travel, ideal for families with children as well as for couples, and delicious as an escape for winter chills, the Conservatory Course at Hammock Beach experience is one of luxury topped off with a spectacular glass conservatory that will intrigue you and pamper you with true sumptuousness.

As you visit you may want to notice what feature you’d include in your conservatory. Believe it or not, you can have this kind of spectacular architecture at your home or business!

In 1999 Brookside Gardens created a strategic, master plan to transform their gardens into a world-class destination. The first phase in their plan called to simply pave an unused space near the visitor’s center enlarging the parking lot, but Brookside’s landscape architect Ching-Fang and her team, Stephanie Oberle, Phil Normandy, and Ellen Bennett ENVISIONED SOMETHING MUCH GREATER – an integrated parking and garden landscape – parking AS a landscape!

With the help of several generous donors, beautiful elements, such as a waterway and gatehouse, were able to bring life to their vision. Made of ALL NATURAL, ORGANIC MATERIALS, from the stone brick wall to the beautiful planted flowers, all elements resting in this entryway has a purpose in the gardens, including the gatehouse inspired by Tanglewood’s modern-styled custom greenhouse!

“This particular gatehouse, designed by Tanglewood Conservatories, was designed to resemble a greenhouse. At night it evokes images of a lantern at the entrance, a beacon lighting the way to a beautiful garden experience… and adding a compelling new garden element.”

-Brookside Gardens

Brookside’s vision for this project was to create an inviting and inspiring space that welcomes people to the gardens and fully embraces the visitor’s functional needs.

“We wanted the visitor center to become the heart of the gardens and extend Brookside’s horticulture and education,” Phil and Ching-Fang said. “We saw the gatehouse as our opportunity to start developing a quality design aesthetic. This is why we chose Tanglewood to design the gatehouse. It is a perfect match to its setting. We are delighted with the results.”

Great Challenges Bring Great Rewards

According to Stephanie, Brookside Gardens’ Director, their BIGGEST CHALLENGE was fundraising. Although they had a steep learning curve with fundraising and the creation and management of the project as a whole, Brookside’s staff, volunteers, and donors were dedicated to bringing this center to fruition. According to the team,

“The staff and volunteers are truly dedicated to Brookside Gardens and the project hit close to home for everyone. We are passionate about these gardens and everything we stand for.”

IF THEY COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN, the team said they would have asked a lot more questions. This was the first time they have completed a project of this magnitude. Between fundraising, lead time changes, and roadblocks, this first project brought on some great challenges but it also brought great reward.

This great change within Brookside turned out beautifully. We were not surprised we were able to work so well with Brookside Gardens. After all, our founders, Nancy Virts and Alan Stein, were married there over 20 years ago!

Moving forward

Stephanie says their team is wiser and more knowledgeable about how to take on future projects of this magnitude. Next on their list is a GROWING GREENHOUSE roughly 10,000sq.ft. and a new CONSERVATORY to replace their now 50 year old beauty! Stephanie tells us,

“The estimate for the new conservatory, one that matches all our dreams, is around $25 million. Obviously, more fundraising is on our horizon,”